Today, when you order "Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic", you'll instantly be emailed a Penguin Magic gift certificate. You can spend it on anything you like at Penguin, just like cash. Just complete your order as normal, and within seconds you'll get an email with your gift certificate.

Master illusionist Mark Wilson has compiled the most comprehensive magic "teach-in" ever assembled. The secrets to more than 300 classic tricks-from sleight of hand to levitation-are carefully explained in this 503-page volume.

It's all here: Card Magic, Coin Magic, Rope Magic, Mental Magic, Make-at-Home Magic, Sponge Ball Magic, Billiard Ball Magic, Cups and Balls Magic, and Magical Illusions. Mark Wilson devoted more than two years of research, writing, and technical preparation to this book. More than 50,000 still photographs were taken of the detailed execution of the tricks considered worthy to include in this course, and these photographs were edited and converted into hundreds of simplified line drawings. The straightforward text follows Mark Wilson's "step method" of magic instruction, the same method he has used to teach magic to Tony Curtis, Telly Savalas, Bill Bixby, Dick Van Dyke, Peter Faulk, Bernadette Peters, John Denver, and other professional entertainers. It's thoroughness makes Mark Wilson's Complete Course In Magic especially recommended for the beginner with absolutely no experience in magic. At the same time, its scope and depth has earned this book a place in the libraries of many of today's most accomplished magicians, professional and amature alike!

This was one of my first books on magic and it does not disappoint! With the price and the amount of
information and tricks included, this is a great addition for any magic bookshelf. The methods are
clearly outlined in black and white pictures. What it may lack in color, this book offers a vast
array of illusions and tricks. Many of the tricks given can be adapted or changed around using
different items and presentations to great applause. If you are looking to purchase a quality first
time magic book for someone that covers a range of type magic (coin, stage illusion, mental, card,
etc.) this will give a nice glimpse into most all of them. I highly recommend this text. Many dvds
out there today are based off of many of these same tricks...but include only a handful of tricks;
this text has tons of tricks and will have you going back to it years later! A+ You won't be
disappointed with Mark Wilson's Course in Magic!
DVDs and CDs are nice to see illusions
performed and for more indepth examination of tricks...but seldom include the quantity and quality
of illusions that can be found here. Enjoy!

This is the first book in magic I ever owned and I still referr to it on a regular basis. It has a
lot of information and numerous tricks and techniques are discussed. I have the large hard covered
volume that was sold years ago and really like this one. I have not seen it in this format for sale
in a number of years. The good news is the information is the same in the soft back and the price is
much less than the original. If you are looking for a great place to start or a really good resource
in magic you will be very happy to own this book.

This is an excellent book if you are a beginner. The teaching is the best of any magic book I have
ever read. I dont reccomend this to anyone who has been into magic for a long time. But overall I
greatly recommend this book.

Let me put it this way. I love this book, this book was like my bible when I first started, I loved
this book so much I stole it from my library, and if you are just starting out, or are looking for
something to give to a beginner this book is by far the best thing you could give them. The
instructions are second to none, the illustrations are fantastic, and a lot of time and thought was
put into this book.

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on September 1st, 2013

For $20, this is a steal. Seriously. Buying this book should land anyone in prison. Like I said, its
a steal.

I had it a few years ago, and stupidly, I threw it away. Boy was that a dumb move.
I didn't know better back then. I was a hobbyist that was only interested in your flavor of the
month "street effect".

Now that I'm doing a few paid gigs, here and there, I'm realizing
the value of this book. When you start looking for work, you realize that your little street card
magic effects will severely limit the number of gigs you can do. As all gigs don't all lend
themselves to the same type of magic.

This book is PACKED with will all types of magic that
can be performed in different types of situations. There's close up and stand up. There's magic
thats good for a tabled performance and magic that's suited for in the hands. There's magic for all
different ages. There's (my favorite) Card magic, coin magic, rope magic, sponge ball magic, mental
magic, and more. There's a chapter on illusions that won't cost thousands of dollars to pull off.
Its truly a remarkable volume.

Much of the card magic is spectacular. Card tricks that can
be done in front of a large audience, as well as intimate/close up effects. You can literally find
magic that can fit any audience and any performing environment.

If you're just a David
Blaine-wannabe, don't waste your time. But if you're serious about tje art and excelling in it, then
this book is for you.If there is a Holy Grail of magic, then this book is it. I just bought it to
replace the one I tossed out. I couldn't be happier.